Comparative analysis of Florida and Maryland emergency operations centers

Emergency

Comparative Study of Two Emergency Operations Response Centers

Identify two separate State Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) in the United States

It is interesting to compare the Emergency Operations Response Centers of two East coast states, Florida and Maryland, given that some of the potential emergencies the states might face, such as hurricanes and water-related damage, might be presumed to have a great deal of overlap. However, the different state's approaches, demographics, bureaucracies differ substantially. Florida's disaster management agencies have specifically come under increasing criticism, because of the state's lackluster response to hurricane Wilma. Maryland's proximity to Washington D.C. And the federal operations management structure offers features of comparative interest.

Florida

Overview

The mission of the Florida Division of Emergency Management overall is to help the state of Florida respond, recover, and mitigate the impact of the effects of state emergencies. The Florida Division of Emergency Management is subdivided into four bureau areas, and all departments possess specific duties. The Bureau of Compliance Planning and Support reviews current Florida laws and coordinates efforts regarding hazardous materials. The Office of Policy and Planning formulates policy for the whole Emergency Management Division. The Bureau of Preparedness and Response is responsible for developing and maintaining current plans to respond to a wide variety of threats, such as hurricanes, tornados, and flooding. The Bureau of Recovery and Mitigation works to reduce long-term risks to human life and property from disasters. ("Organization," 2006, Florida Division of Emergency Management)

Different organizations that are involved

The Office of Policy and Planning prepares Presidential Disaster Declarations or Emergency Requests in coordination with the federal government, and also works with the Small Business Administration to issue disaster declaration requests for assistance. It works with the U.S. Department of Justice to deal with the need for mass immigration after a wide-scale disaster. The Recovery and Mitigation division administers several federal assistance programs including the Public Assistance and Individual Assistance Programs, the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, the Flood Mitigation Assistance Program and the National Flood Insurance Program. Within the state, this bureaucratic division also works directly with the state's Bureau of Preparedness and Response to assist with planning disaster response and recovery operations after a disaster. It also is able to work, if necessary, with all branches of state government. ("Organization," 2006, Florida Division of Emergency Management)

How the organizations interact with or are apart of the EOC

All four of these different bureaucratic divisions compose the EOC as a whole. They coordinate activities with one another, as well as exist as individual entities.

Other information

Much of the state's focus is encouraging preparedness on a personal level for natural, weather-related disasters, stressing their seasonal quality, and offering information such as the phone numbers of local emergency rooms and hotlines, and access to weather-related data.

Maryland

Overview, Make-up, and Different Organizations Involved in Maryland

Maryland's Emergency Management Agency also assures visitors to its official website to be prepared for any disaster. There is a division of disaster mitigation and a National Incident Management System/Incident Command System (NIMS/ICS) designed specifically to coordinate activities that involve the federal government. The exercises and training divisions work with similar divisions in Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, a Continuity of Operations department designed to work with the federal Department of Homeland Security, and an Office of Domestic Preparedness and Law Enforcement Liaison work with local and federal authorities to coordinate comprehensive disaster planning efforts. (Maryland Emergency Management Homepage, 2006, Official Website)

Different organizations that are involved, how the organizations interact with or are apart of the EOC/What is the responsibilities of each member to the EOC

The federal government, including FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Authority), the Department of Homeland Security, and the state Emergency Management offices of Delaware, Virginia, and Pennsylvania are all involved, as is the National Guard. These organizations do not have specifically delineated legal responsibilities to the state of Maryland's EOC, other than to serve the citizens of the U.S. In the case of the federal government. (Maryland Emergency Management Homepage, 2006, Official Website)

Who activates the EOC at the time of an emergency?

John Droneburg III, the organization's director activities and coordinates the efforts of the above agencies during a time of emergency. (Droneburg, 2006) The state's governor also has special powers during an emergency.

How the EOC responds to an emergency/disaster and coordinates the efforts of all responsible parties/Is there a separate warning system to alert the organizations of an impending emergency/disaster?

The coordination efforts and motivation depend on whether the disaster is local, state or federal in nature.

What laws if any, enable the EOC to act?

MEMA's authority derives from Article 14 of the Annotated Code of Maryland. This Article creates MEMA and authorizes the political subdivisions of the state to create emergency management offices of their own. Currently, there are 26 local emergency management offices in Maryland - all 23 counties, along with Annapolis, Baltimore and Ocean City. Article 14 also gives the Governor emergency powers - such as temporarily waiving state laws that may interfere with emergency response operations." (Maryland Emergency Management Homepage, 2006, Official Website)

Does the public or public agencies have a mechanism to notify the EOC of an emergency/disastrous situation, and any other information you feel is important and that relates to the operation of the EOC?

Like Florida, the state provides a hotline for all citizens.

Comparison

Strengths

Florida's great strength seems to lie in its insistence that all citizens take responsibility for having a personal disaster plan. Maryland's great strength lies in its ability to plan its preparations with cooperative neighboring states, and the neighboring federal government.

Weaknesses

In comparison to Florida, Florida's EOC is far more isolated from the administration of neighboring state authorities. Maryland's reliance upon other organizations that do not have a specific responsibility to the people of the state might be said to be its weakness as an EOC.

Similarities

Both states stress the need for preparedness for weather-related disasters that particularly afflict these water-bound costal states.

Opinion on which State has the most effective EOC

In light of the increased need for coordinated efforts for emergency preparation for non-related disasters, Maryland's structure seems more comprehensive in its nature and more applicable to a variety of disasters that are not weather-related, such as its coordinated activities with the nearby Department of Homeland Security.

Opinion on what you liked or disliked about how the EOC's operate

Florida's availability of information regarding the state's ever-changing weather-related data, while helpful, seems to place an overabundance of responsibility upon the citizens regarding disaster preparedness, while Maryland's recognition of the need for interdependent related efforts shows greater willingness to use available federal and neighboring state resources.

What recommendations as to how to improve the current EOC's or for future programs?

Florida could become more involved with federal efforts to contain disasters, and could encompass other costal states in its warning efforts.